Thoughts on deconstructing, renewing and embracing the qualities (quirks, oddities, imperfections) that make us other-worldly BEAUTIFUL. Includes weekly mentions of the reigning Queen of Other, Kristen Stewart. Perhaps once we shatter the old ideas of beauty, then the need to alienate, segregate and tear down Others will disappear entirely.

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A/N: The images displayed in this essay are not mine–Thank Goddess for Tumblr, Pinterest and google images. Click the image for a link to pics’ origins. Per usual, this is so very unbeta’d–all mistakes and typos belong to this writer. Musical playlist is at the bottom. Click the “Sign Me Up!” button in the side panel to receive MOO notifications in your Email…riiiiight over heeeerrrre——->

“Whatever you do or dream you can do – begin it. Boldness has genius and power and magic in it.”~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Well, well, well. First and foremost, please let me wish you all a very happy New Year, my Misfit Rebels…you Regal Beauties of an Other Army!!

I am a firm believer that in order to begin anew, we must pay homage to the roots we plant and to any steps forward [and backward and sideways and diagonal] we have taken to get to his point. Welcome to The MOO Stew Review. After several false starts and two bouts of the flu, I am pleased to finally be back here, Musing along with you all into 2012. I apologize for not posting sooner this week, or before New Year’s Day as I had hoped, but my work schedule took an interesting turn.

In addition to the holidays and illnesses, I found myself designated the lone on-call psychotherapist liaison between Red Cross and my whole city as well as a turn at serving jury duty this week. Ah, 2012 took off at a sprint from the starting gate, and I’m literally just holding on for dear life. When I came back to my MOO outline for The Stew Review (several weeks in the making), I realized I simply had TOO. MUCH. TO. COVER. You all would have been sitting here for daaaaaayyyyys trying to read through my Breaking Dawn-sized ramblings. And I couldn’t do that to you. Not when you’ve been so understanding and gracious with me all this time.

i luff you for your patience

So, I’ve decided to re-imagine my year-end and January posts via MooDrabbles again, like I had for November. New Year’s resolutions and all: succinctness and presence. Besides, it seems that you all dug the MooDrabbles, and it certainly helped me feel connected and immersed with you as we watched Our Reigning Other Queen own the Breaking Dawn promotional tour, just as she had dominated the better part of 2011.

*holds out hand to you* Shall we? We’ll continue where we left off in last week’s Muselet…where you amazing, amazing readers tweeted, emailed and pinged me with your thoughts on the most memorable Other Queen Moments of the year. Before I list the top three Moments of Otherness you all elected, I must pay homage to highly-applauded happenings that enhanced our lead Majestic Misfit’s Otherworldly Beauty. Honorable Mentions are up to bat…

The Other Queen’s Court

I don’t think we understood how profoundly successful a year Ms Kristen Stewart enjoyed until we attempted to single out our favorite moments, right? I noticed the first suggestions sent to me focused on the most current happenings, which is understandable, since our head Royal Rebel’s public appearances, magazine covers and copious interviews correlated with the Breaking Dawn release and the completion of Snow White and the Huntsman filming. But I found myself clapping and rejoicing when you beauties reminded me of the greatness that was the first half of the year.

The People Choose Gold

holy crow, Bella! You're GLOWING!

January 6, 2011, our Reigning Other Queen rang in the new year luminously. When the camera panned onto Kristen during the People’s Choice Awards, I literally gasped out loud. It was insufferable to sit through that “awards” show..except for the shining moments that Kristen and her boys Robert and Taylor provided. And Twitter then broke. It was the first time we’d laid eyes on our girl since she went typically Ninja a few weeks earlier to spend the holidays in the UK with Rob. But when Ms Stewart stepped up to the stage in that golden-sequined Reem Acra dress and 19-inch Jimmy Choo peep-toe heels to accept the Favorite Movie Actress Award–well, it was nearly a religious experience. It’s no wonder Rob couldn’t stop staring. #ProudHobeau *winks at @drowninit

It wasn’t just the sequined, miniscule uh, mini hemline displaying her ridiculous apendages, nor the flawless makeup and tousled, perfect hair that elevated the PCA moment from a low murmur to a Rebel Yell…it was one of the first glimpses at the grounded, more confident Kristen Stewart. With what would later become more the rule than the exception, our Ambassador of Other exhibited a new kind poise and grace but an accessibility too, all while strutting up stairs, and on slick stages in towering stilettos and blinding spotlights (and Queen Latifah monologues). If this golden, glowing Goddess was any indication of how 2011 was going to be…we were done before we even got started…hello first week of January. We’re done.

Lady In Untamed Red

For a self-professed lover of the low-pro, Girlfriend sure knows how to unleash the beast and take serious fashion risks. At the annual Metropolitan Museum of Art’s (MET) Costume Institute Benefit Gala in May, Ms Stewart defined “Savage Beauty” in a very “Other-like” and purposeful statement. Wearing a floor-length Proenza Schouler gown and heels, Kristen walked the red carpet amongst the fashion world’s and Hollywood royalty … and she held her own.

The zig-zagging pattern atop the heavier, thicker, draping material signaled a departure from Ms Stewart’s usual, short and flirty repertoire, but the famous and elegant New York gala honoring the late Alexander McQueen may have been the perfect forum for the unveiling of a riskier, bolder Kristen. I for one applauded her efforts. Nowhere here do I see Bella Swan. Nowhere here do I see an uncertain wallflower. I see a young woman who owns the starkly jagged lines and unexpected, sensual, and backless creation that dares you to look away…especially when the woman wearing such bawdy exclamations, leaves you behind.

Her Beauty Is Power

We knew. We knew when we saw Kristen wearing spandex exercise capris outside a fitness and yoga studio. We nodded in awe and confirmation when pictures of Kristen riding horses at a valley stable began to surface. We knew that our Badass Royal Beauty was preparing for her titular role in Snow White and The Huntsman (SWATH is such a rad Acronym, isn’t it??), but I don’t think we understood the profundity of it.

When the filmakers of SWATH held a panel at Comic-Con, they dropped tantalizing claims of wanting to film something akin to “Lord of the Rings”. And then they shared the first official screen shots of the obscenely beautiful cast in costume for their promo pictures. It is then that many of us found ourselves struck dumb… and thirsty. Because we understood a leetle better now; that this film was a whole. new. level. And we wanted MOAR.

It was in September, 2011 when I found myself completely losing. my. shite. On-set pictures began to hit the internet, displaying some action shots of filming from a secluded beach in Wales. As my eyes became saucer-sized, and my email box started screaming at me in ALL CAPS, I began humming Florence + The Machine’s The Dog Days Are Over because I could hear the horses coming, and I knew that we were on totally new territory. A Warrior Queen, trained in the Art of War, led the charge.

And as more images peppered our already stunned brains and eyes, and the goosebumps rose on my arms, it became obvious that Kristen was apart of something extraordinary.

I thought I had finished camping out for movies and premieres after my Breaking Dawn or Bust adventure. But, uh, no. I have no qualms about camping out, flying to LA or New York [London?] to greet the premiere of SWATH. I’ve already mentioned this idea to @robkris13, @Just2CUSmileand Bouffant. **Witness KJ overturning pillows and crawling beneath the bed, rumamging for change to throw in a piggy bank for the SWATH adventure.**

Kristen has repeatedly, passionately described her filming experience on SWATH as “fulfilling” and her ideal role. Though she promoted Breaking Dawn at the end of the year, it became apparent that Kristen’s heart and soul were fully encapsulated by her work with Snow White. She referenced her joy with the project, even while it was still in an infancy stage. She took a break in November from filming SWATH to promote BD, and she couldn’t contain her elation and admiration for her character, and her colleagues… her adoring declarations for all things SWATH collude perfectly with more Honorable Mentions of The Best Other Moments:

“It’s not a little girl sitting by a well with little tweety birds telling her what to do and where to go.” ~at Comic-Con, SWATH panel

“On Snow White, I am having the most fulfilling experience as an actor.” ~to Entertainment Weekly

A Goddess Grounded

“An Authentic Life is the most important personal form of worship”

~Sarah Ban Breathnach

Lastly in this Not-So-Drabbleish-MooDrabble, I wanted to celebrate an Other’s insistence on comfort and authenticity. Moreover, an Other can be spotted when s/he is him or herself, even in the midst of folks who are acting or exhibiting behaviors in the opposite manner. An Other marches to his own drummer, regardless of the dominant beat. An Other wears Chucks when everyone else wears Designer…

Others slip out of 5-inch stilettos into Classic Skateboarder Vans to be immortalized in Hollywood History…

Others throw on Nikes with gorgeous Roberto Cavalli gowns at the UK Premiere of her massively successful franchise. . .

Because, really, Others don’t give a shit. Others keep their [bare] feet…on the ground, even when everything around them threatens to usurp and uproot.

A girl after this island-girl’s heart–choosing to go barefoot and pain-free in lieu of sexy heels that pinch and confine.

Sooooo, we’re wrapping up this first post featuring the Honorable Mentions in our Stew Review and Anew series… We’re just getting started, my Lovelies, and I thank you for your patience and kind understanding as I try to inject some structure into my B-A-N-A-N-A-S 3D life. But I have a feeling that we’re going to bear witness to our Reigning Other Queen’s best year yet, don’t you? I simply cannot wait to go on this ride with you.

In the meantime, I’ll see you all soon, with Part 2 of The Stew Review..and Anew…

Jeebus like rhyming much? Yes. Yes I do. Just as I am captivated and compelled by alliteration. See what I did there?

Anyway, get ready for the Top 3 Moments of Otherness. Catch you laters, Homies. And Happy New Year. xoxo, KJ

We Are Other.

Kristen Is Other.

Others understand that reviewing is integral in renewing.

Embrace Your Other.

* * *

QUESTIONS: What do you think of the honorable mentions of the Stew Review? How are you? Talk to me. Tell me how your new year is shaping up so far…

A/N: Thank you. A special thank you to one of my Possum Besties @Ophelia_2010, who gave me the perfect pep talk today. Exactly when I needed it. And to @MyCleverAlias and @DeeDreamer16 who reminded me that we can just be “whelmed”.

Music PlayList for the The Stew Review

*Every single song on this list was prevalent over the course of the year in writing MOO. Stories abound. We’ll have to have a beer or three one night and hash it out.